ECOM – Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity, in partnership with APCOM Foundation under the project “LGBTQI+ Emergency Support Fund”, is launching a Small Grants Call to empower LGBT community-led organizations and initiative groups in Eastern Europe, Central Asia (EECA), and Asia-Pacific to respond to human rights emergencies, anti-LGBT persecution, shrinking civic space, and urgent threats.
Purpose of the call
To enable LGBT community-led organizations and initiative groups to respond swiftly to shrinking space, emergencies and operational crises, ensuring safety, continued activism, and rights protection in times of acute need.
Who can apply?
- LGBT community-led organizations or initiative groups from:
- EECA (Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia)—managed by ECOM
- Asia-Pacific—managed by APCOM
- Both registered NGOs and informal/unregistered groups (fiscal agents can be used).
- Groups directly affected by or responding to emergencies, attacks, criminalization, or human rights crises.
What can be funded?
Small grants (up to USD 5,000, up to 3 months, September – November 2025) are available for projects including, but not limited to, the following four main support areas:
- Combatting stigmatization and disinformation
- Rapid advocacy or communications in response to hate campaigns, media attacks, or defamation.
- Documentation and public reporting of human rights violations.
- Responding to legal and policy threats
- Technical and advocacy support against anti-LGBT legislation or repressive policies.
- Coalition-building and mobilization against harmful legal initiatives.
- Protection, legal aid, and safety
- Urgent legal assistance, lawyer fees, or legal representation for those facing prosecution.
- Security upgrades (including digital safety), psychosocial support, or emergency shelter for at-risk defenders.
- Emergency support for displaced, migrant, or stateless LGBT people
- Legal and psychosocial aid for LGBT migrants or those forced to relocate.
- Direct support to access health, education, or employment while displaced.
Purpose of the call
To enable LGBT community-led organizations and initiative groups to respond swiftly to shrinking space, emergencies and operational crises, ensuring safety, continued activism, and rights protection in times of acute need.
Small grants (up to USD 5,000, up to 3 months, September – November 2025) are available for projects including, but not limited to, the following four main support areas:
🟣 Combatting Stigmatization and Disinformation
🟣 Responding to Legal and Policy Threats
🟣 Protection, Legal Aid, and Safety
🟣 Emergency Support for Displaced, Migrant, or Stateless LGBT People
Deadline: August 15, 2025.
